§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact he estimates the creation of the Universal Bank will have on the rate of bank branch closures. [136927]
§ Mr. Alan JohnsonNo such estimate has been made. However, proposals for the provision of Universal Banking services through the post office network, which the Post Office and the banks are currently developing, will substantially increase the volume of banking activity at post offices and will restore banking services to many areas where bank branches have closed.